Surfshark Review 2024 — Is it still one of the Best VPNs? (December 2024)

Surfshark Review — Quick Summary Quick Summary

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for streaming, and it's also great for large families or people with many devices. I have used it frequently while traveling for years, and have always enjoyed a smooth and safe online experience.  In this full Surfshark review, I tested the provider’s streaming, torrenting, security, and gaming support (among other things). 

Overall, Surfshark is very secure, has excellent streaming support, and allows unlimited simultaneous connections. The VPN works with 100+ streaming platforms, including top ones like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ — plus, on Android, it lets you match your GPS data to your VPN IP. It also has high-end security features, including double VPN connections, an ad blocker, and a tool that regularly changes your VPN IP.

On top of that, there are tons of other perks — Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers in 95+ countries, allows torrenting on all servers, has breakneck speeds across all servers, and comes with very intuitive apps for all major platforms. 

There are only a few drawbacks I can think of — the provider doesn’t always work in restrictive countries like China, and it lacks complete leak protection (but it didn’t leak my data in my tests).

But, ultimately, Surfshark is an excellent top VPN. It has 3 tier-based subscriptions with very affordable plans, and it backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. It's in the top 5 on my best VPNs list, so you know it's good.

Quick SurfShark VPN Review
Rating	4.7
Overall rank	4 out of #19
Works with Netflix
Server Network	3,200+ servers in 95+ countries
Number of Devices	Unlimited
Starting Price	$2.19/month
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days
Coupons	Surfshark Coupon 86% OFF

Surfshark Security Features Security Features

Surfshark provides access to the following essential VPN security features: 

• 256-bit AES encryption — This makes your online traffic 100% unreadable. Also, this is the same type of encryption the military uses. 
• Kill switch — This feature disables all internet access if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. It does this to prevent data from leaking outside the VPN tunnel. Surfshark’s kill switch is available on all of its apps, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. 
• No-logs policy — The provider doesn’t collect any information about your IP and web traffic. What’s more, its no-logs policy has passed an independent security audit.
• DNS leak protection — Surfshark runs its own encrypted DNS servers to prevent DNS leaks. Basically, it makes sure your DNS requests don’t leak outside of the VPN tunnel. If that were to happen, your ISP could see what sites you access even though you’re connected to the VPN. 

Surfshark provides access to the following protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. This is a really good selection, especially WireGuard since it’s very fast and also really secure. OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec are also secure and fast, but still slower than WireGuard. Here’s a table showcasing which protocols are available on which apps:

Unfortunately, Surfshark is missing IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection, which other top competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have. That said, I ran leak tests on servers in 10+ countries, and I never experienced any leaks. 

Surfshark also comes with RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy (PFS), which are advanced security features. RAM-only servers only write data to the RAM, meaning everything is wiped with each reboot. And perfect forward secrecy changes the encryption key for each VPN session, making it near impossible for hackers to try and compromise past or future session keys to spy on your traffic. 

Finally, Surfshark also supports two-factor authentication (2FA), which lets you secure your VPN account. 2FA requires you to perform one extra step when logging into your account, such as entering a time-sensitive code that’s generated by a third-party authenticator app. This way, even if a hacker steals your login details, they won’t be able to log into your account. 

Surfshark Privacy Features Privacy Features

Surfshark provides very strong privacy, as it doesn’t log your IP address or web traffic (the sites you browse or the files you download). In addition, it also doesn’t collect connection timestamps and bandwidth usage data. It only records your email address, which it needs to set up your account. Also, it collects payment data, which it needs to handle purchases and refunds.

I also like how Surfshark’s logging policy has been independently audited in 2022. This makes it much easier to trust its no-logs claims. Also, before this, the VPN had undergone 2 more security audits — one confirming its browser extensions are safe, and another one proving that its server infrastructure is secure. 

Surfshark is located in the Netherlands, which is a 5/9/14 Eyes country — this is a group of countries that share surveillance data with each other. That said, this is not that bad, as Surfshark’s no-logs policy has been proven true. So, even if the authorities ask for user data, the provider won’t have anything to hand over.

Surfshark Additional Features Additional Features

Surfshark comes with the following additional features:

• Bypasser. 
• CleanWeb. 
• Dynamic MultiHop. 
• IP Rotator. 
• Camouflage Mode. 
• NoBorders. 
• Tor Support. 
• Override GPS Location. 
• Smart DNS. 
• Dedicated IP Addresses.
• Built-in Speed Test. 

Bypasser

Bypasser is Surfshark’s split-tunneling tool, which allows you to choose which apps use or don’t use the VPN. In addition, you can also pick which websites bypass the VPN tunnel. For example, you could use the split-tunneling feature to only route Netflix traffic through the VPN to get faster streaming speeds. 

The provider’s split-tunneling tool is available on the Windows and Android apps. This is pretty standard for most VPNs, though some top competitors (like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access) also have split-tunneling on macOS. 

I tested Surfshark’s split-tunneling tool many times, and it always worked well for me. It’s super easy to find and use, and I never experienced any bugs or errors. 

CleanWeb

CleanWeb is the provider’s ad blocker, which gets rid of ads, stops ad trackers from spying on your online activities, and prevents you from accidentally accessing unsafe websites. CleanWeb is available on the provider’s Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS apps. 

I think CleanWeb is a really good feature, as it always worked well in my tests. It got rid of ads on search engines, blocked 80% of ads on media outlets, and stopped me from visiting HTTP websites. Still, I think NordVPN’s Threat Protection is better — it works just like CleanWeb (but it blocks slightly more ads), and it can also block malware-infected downloads.

Dynamic MultiHop

Surfshark’s Dynamic MultiHop feature allows you to use a double VPN connection, which means your traffic will go through 2 servers instead of just 1 server. That way, your data is secured with an extra layer of encryption. 

Surfshark has preset double VPN servers, but what I like the most is that you can set up your own connection. That means you can choose whatever entry and exit servers you want. And since the VPN has servers in 95+ countries, that means you get tons of variety. 

A double VPN connection usually causes noticeable slowdowns, but this wasn’t the case with this provider. I tested 10+ double VPN connections, and my speeds only dropped by about 15% compared to when I used a normal VPN connection. 

IP Rotator

IP Rotator is a feature that regularly changes your VPN IP address while you’re connected to different Surfshark servers. The best part is that the tool does this without dropping your connection. The IP Rotator feature is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. 

This feature is useful if you want additional privacy or to improve your streaming. By regularly changing your VPN IP address, you make it harder for someone to track it. That, and it also makes it more difficult for streaming platforms to detect and block it. 

Camouflage Mode

Camouflage Mode is Surfshark’s obfuscation feature, which masks your VPN traffic and makes it look like normal internet traffic. Camouflage Mode is automatically enabled on all of the provider’s servers when you use the OpenVPN protocol. 

Camouflage Mode is mostly good if you want to enjoy additional privacy. That’s because it will prevent anyone (including your ISP and government) from seeing your VPN traffic. 

That said, I can’t recommend using Camouflage Mode in restrictive countries. Multiple support reps confirmed the VPN doesn’t work in places like China, Egypt, and the UAE. If this is what you were mainly interested in, try ExpressVPN instead since it works in restrictive countries without any issues.

NoBorders

NoBorders provides you with access to servers that work on restrictive networks. For example, if you’re at work or school, and your network has a restrictive firewall, NoBorders would allow you to use servers that can circumvent those restrictions. This feature is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. 

Surfshark also claims NoBorders is good for restrictive countries, but that’s not really accurate. I have confirmation from 5+ support reps that the VPN doesn’t work in restrictive regions like China and Russia. If this is what you were interested in, go for ExpressVPN instead, as it works in restrictive countries 100% of the time.

Tor Support

Surfshark allows Tor traffic across all of its servers, which means you can first connect to one of the provider’s servers to secure your data before accessing the dark web. 

Just keep in mind you’ll experience pretty noticeable slowdowns when using Tor over VPN connections. This happens because the Tor network is already really slow, and it also encrypts your data at least 3 times. When I browsed the dark web while connected to Surfshark, it usually took around 13 seconds for an .onion link to load. 

Still, if you’re mainly interested in browsing the dark web, I’d go with NordVPN instead. In addition to supporting Tor traffic on all servers, it also has Onion Over VPN servers that allow you to access dark web sites in regular browsers like Chrome and Firefox — that’s much more convenient than having to use the Tor browser.

Override GPS Location

This feature lets you mask your GPS data, so that it matches your VPN IP address location. This tool is really good for streaming, but keep in mind it’s only available on Android. 

Spoofing your GPS data allows you to better access streaming mobile apps. That’s because many of them don’t only rely on your IP address to determine your location, but your GPS data as well. So, by using this feature, you won’t need to access streaming content on websites on your mobile anymore. 

This tool is available inside the Android app, but you’ll need to perform a few tweaks for it to work. Luckily, Surfshark walks you through everything you need to do, so it won’t take more than a few minutes. 

Smart DNS

Surfshark has a smart DNS tool, which is a streaming feature that allows you to access TV shows and movies on devices that don’t support VPN apps — for example, certain smart TV models and gaming consoles. 

You need to perform a manual setup to use the smart DNS, but it’s pretty simple. Plus, the provider has helpful step-by-step guides that walk you through everything you need to do. 

Keep in mind a smart DNS doesn’t provide any privacy, as it doesn’t change your IP address or encrypt your traffic. That said, not having any encryption means you get much faster streaming speeds. 

However, keep in mind the smart DNS only works with Amazon Prime Video and Hulu for now. Also, the region of the smart DNS is permanently set to the US. If that’s a deal-breaker, check out ExpressVPN instead since its smart DNS can access more streaming sites.

Dedicated IP Addresses

For a small extra cost, Surfshark allows you to get dedicated static IP addresses. These IP addresses are only assigned to you, so you don’t share them with other VPN users. 

Dedicated IPs have many use cases, such as bypassing reCAPTCHAs and accessing websites that block shared VPN IPs. For example, I always use a dedicated IP when traveling abroad to access my bank’s site, as it blocks shared VPN IPs. 

Surfshark lets you pick a dedicated IP from 10+ countries, including the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, and Canada. Overall, you get very good variety.

Built-in Speed Test

Surfshark provides access to a built-in speed test on its Windows app. This tool helps you determine which server locations would provide you with the fastest speeds. 

I think having access to such a speed test is very useful. That’s because you won’t need to use a third-party speed test (like Ookla Speedtest) to determine which server locations would offer the fastest connections. 

I used the speed test while traveling, and it’s pretty accurate. It generally always recommended nearby servers, so it didn’t make any errors (like recommending distant servers). 

Surfshark Streaming Support Streaming Support

Surfshark provides excellent streaming support, as it works with 100+ streaming platforms. It works without issues with popular streaming platforms, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Max, and HBO Max. What’s more, it also accesses other sites, such as Crunchyroll and VRV.

What’s more, the VPN service comes with a smart DNS as well. This allows you to enjoy streaming content on devices that don’t support VPN app installations, like certain smart TV models or gaming consoles. However, Surfshark’s smart DNS can only access Amazon Prime Video US and Hulu for now. 

I’m also a big fan of how the Android app can spoof your GPS data. That allows you to access streaming mobile apps, which is really convenient — on mobile, you normally have to use a VPN to access streaming sites in the device’s browser, as streaming mobile apps use both your device’s IP and GPS data to check its location. 

What’s more, I also think this is one of the best VPN services for Netflix. That’s because it consistently works with 15+ Netflix libraries, so you get tons of variety. What’s more, you also get access to many popular Netflix libraries, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan.

Surfshark Torrenting Support Torrenting Support

Surfshark is among the best P2P VPNs out there, as it allows torrenting across all of its servers. That amounts to 3,200+  servers in 95+ countries, which is a huge P2P server network. Due to that, it’s easy for all users to torrent on nearby servers that are not overcrowded to get good speeds. 

Whenever I use Surfshark for torrenting, I generally have pretty good download speeds. For this review, I torrented a 12.74 GB file in around 55 minutes, which is decent. Plus, if you want to speed up your downloads, you can always use the provider’s split-tunneling feature. 

And I really like how secure Surfshark is for torrenting. You get a kill switch, an audited no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection. Plus, the VPN’s IP Rotator feature makes it very hard for anyone in the torrent swarm to track your VPN IP address. And also, the CleanWeb feature protects you from shady torrenting sites. 

My only complaint is that the VPN lacks port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy support. Port forwarding would let you connect to more peers to get faster downloads. And SOCKS5 proxy support would allow you to configure your P2P app to use SOCKS5 proxy servers, which hide your IP address but don’t encrypt your traffic (so you get very fast downloads). If this is a deal-breaker, check out Private Internet Access instead.

Surfshark Gaming Support Gaming Support

Surfshark provides a very smooth and stable gaming experience. I used it to play a few rounds of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for this review, and I had a very good experience — I maintained average ping (133–141 ms), I connected to matches really fast, and I never experienced any lag. 

Since Surfshark hides your IP, it protects you from DDoS attacks — these are cyber attacks in which hackers use your IP to overload your network, forcing you offline. Even better, all of the provider’s servers come with anti-DDoS protection, so nobody can DDoS your connection to them. Plus, the VPN’s IP Rotator feature also makes it very difficult for hackers to detect the VPN’s IP.

What’s more, I really like that this VPN company supports manual router setups. This allows you to use the VPN to game on devices that don’t support VPN apps, like gaming consoles. What’s more, the provider has helpful setup guides that make the manual router setup pretty straightforward.

Unfortunately, Surfshark doesn’t provide support for cloud gaming platforms, so there’s no guarantee it will work with sites that stream video games to portable devices. I tested it with GeForce Now and it worked without issues, but I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same results. If this is a deal-breaker for you, try ExpressVPN instead, as it provides support for cloud gaming sites.

Surfshark Server Network Server Network

Surfshark has a really large server network, with 3,200+  servers in 95+ countries. Its servers are evenly spread across all continents, which makes it really easy for pretty much any user to find and connect to a nearby server to get the fastest speeds. 

Plus, I’m a big fan of how Surfshark supports torrenting across all of its servers. Some top VPNs, only let your torrent on specific servers, which might force some users to have to torrent on overcrowded or distant servers (this can cause slowdowns). 

I also think it’s great how you can configure the apps to display the server ping, which represents how long it takes for your device to communicate with a VPN server. The lower the ping, the faster the speeds, so this metric makes it easy to find the fastest servers for your location. 

Surfshark also provides access to Dynamic MultiHop servers, which provide double VPN connections. I especially like that you can customize your connections, as you can choose whatever entry and exit servers you want. 

Another thing I like is how the provider’s server network is powered by its Nexus technology. Basically, this connects all servers together, which means your traffic is routed through an entire network of servers instead of just 1 server. This way, Surfshark is able to optimize its servers’ speeds, provide more stable connections, and regularly refresh VPN IP addresses without dropping the connection. 

The provider also uses virtual servers. These are servers that provide you with an IP address from the country you connect to, but they’re physically located in a different country. I really like how Surfshark is transparent about its use of virtual locations, as it marks them in its apps. Plus, its virtual locations work very well — I tested 10+ of them, and they always provided me with the correct IP address.

Finally, you also get access to dedicated IPs in 10+ countries, such as the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. You need to pay a small, affordable price to use a dedicated IP address. 

Surfshark Speed Tests Speed Tests

I travel very often, so my baseline speeds never stay the same. Due to that, I can’t run my own speed tests, as I wouldn’t be able to provide you all with consistent VPN speed test results. 

Due to that, I decided to ask my friend from Romania to handle these tests for me. He isn’t a full-time traveler like me, so his speed tests will have more consistent results. For these speed tests, he used the WireGuard protocol. 

First, he performed a speed test without being connected to the VPN. These were his results:

After that, he connected to and tested a nearby server in Serbia. He reported very fast speeds, as he barely noticed any slowdowns. He told me all the sites he accessed loaded instantly, and so did HD and 4K videos (plus, they didn’t buffer at all).

Next, he tested a distant server in the US. To his surprise, he barely experienced any slowdowns! All the sites he accessed continued to load instantly, and so did HD and 4K videos. What’s more, he was able to play online games without experiencing any lag. 

Finally, my friend tested a distant server in Singapore. He experienced some slowdowns, but they were very minor — the sites he accessed loaded in 2 seconds, HD videos loaded instantly and didn’t buffer, and 4K videos too just 2 seconds to load and there was only minor buffering at the start. 

I can also confirm I generally have a similar experience whenever I use Surfshark while traveling. Whether I’m using a nearby or a distant server, I always get really good speeds for browsing, torrenting, streaming, and gaming. 

Surfshark Censorship Bypassing Censorship Bypassing

I can’t recommend using Surfshark in a restrictive country — I talked with multiple support reps, and they all confirmed the VPN app doesn’t work in such places. I can also confirm I’m unable to use Surfshark to access the web when I travel through places like China. 

Now, there is a workaround, but it’s not convenient. Surfshark will work in a restricted region, but not through the app — instead, you have to perform a manual setup, which is honestly difficult and time-consuming. 

It’s overall much better to just get a VPN like ExpressVPN instead, as it consistently works without any issues in places like China, the UAE, and Turkey. 

Surfshark Apps and Ease of Use Apps and Ease of Use

Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV. It also allows manual router setups, and it provides access to browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. 

It’s very easy to install any Surfshark app. When I installed its mobile app, it only took me about 1 minute. And when I installed its Windows app, the whole process didn’t take longer than 2 minutes. 

I also love how Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections. This essentially means you can install and use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices. This is excellent, as most VPNs limit you to 5–10 connections. So I think Surfshark is an excellent VPN company for large families or people who want to secure 10+ devices.

Android & iOS 

I really like Surfshark’s Android and iOS apps, so much so that I think this is one of the best VPNs for Android and iOS on the market. The provider’s mobile apps are very easy to navigate with your thumb, and I’m happy there’s a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest server for your location with just 1 tap.

Plus, both apps are really secure and feature-rich — they both come with CleanWeb and IP Rotator, which is great. That said, the Android app is slightly better, as it also has split-tunneling and the GPS spoofing tool. 

Windows & macOS

I’m a big fan of the provider’s desktop apps as well since they’re extremely intuitive, and they also come with helpful explanations for all settings and features. Plus, it doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a server.  I actually think Surfshark has some of the most beginner-friendly Windows and macOS apps out there.

And both the Windows and macOS apps provide access to helpful features, such as IP Rotator and CleanWeb. Still, I usually prefer the Windows app, as it also comes with split-tunneling and the built-in speed test. 

Linux

Surfshark has one of the best Linux apps on the market, mostly because it’s one of the few apps to come with a GUI (most Linux VPN apps require you to use command lines). The Linux app is also compatible with popular distros, including Ubuntu, Mint, and Debian. 

And the app is also really secure, as it has a kill switch and the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. You also get access to the CleanWeb tool and the Dynamic MultiHop servers. 

Browser Extensions

Surfshark’s browser extensions are really good, as they look just like its desktop apps. So it’s extremely easy to switch between them, as you don’t need to get used to a new interface. 

What’s more, the browser extensions are extremely feature-rich. They let you split-tunnel websites, provide access to the CleanWeb tool (which also blocks cookie popups here), and they also alert you if the site you’re on has suffered data breaches or has experienced suspicious activity.

Router Support

Surfshark provides very good router support, as it’s compatible with tons of router firmwares and models. It works with DD-WRT, OpenWRT, AsusWRT, Tomato, Mikrotik, and GL.iNet routers (just to name a few).

Manually setting up the VPN on your router is also pretty simple, as the provider has tons of easy-to-follow setup guides. I also like that all guides come with screenshots. On average, it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to perform this setup. 

Still, if you only want to use a VPN on your router, you might be better off with ExpressVPN. It’s one of the only VPN services that comes with a dedicated router app, which is very easy to install and use.

Surfshark Pricing and Refund Policy Pricing and Refund Policy

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN companies out there, with prices starting as low as $2.19/month. The provider has 3 tier-based subscriptions that all come with a 1-month, a 1-year, and a 2-year plan. The longest plan generally provides the best savings, and also sometimes includes extra months of service for free. 

The provider has the following tier-based subscriptions: 

• Surfshark Starter — Includes access to all of the VPN features. 
• Surfshark One — Includes the VPN and adds a private search engine, an antivirus, and an identity protection tool. 
• Surfshark One+ — Includes all of the above and adds a data removal tool. 

Surfshark also accepts multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and cryptocurrencies. 

Finally, the provider backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. I really like that you don’t need to meet any requirements (like not using a certain amount of data, for example) to qualify for the refund.

Surfshark Customer Support Customer Support

Surfshark provides access to multiple customer support channels — there’s 24/7 live chat support, email support, and an in-depth support library that includes FAQs, setup tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and informative articles. 

I’m really happy with the provider’s live chat support. Whenever I use it, I’m always connected to a live chat rep in less than 10 seconds. And all the live chat reps I talked with were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. 

And the VPN provider also comes with very good email support. I sent Surfshark several email messages over the course of a week, and I always received a response in less than 24 hours, which is really good. Plus, all of the replies I received were very informative and answered all of my questions. 

Also, I think Surfshark’s support library is really great. All FAQs and support guides are very detailed — plus, the content is very well-formatted, so it’s really easy to read through it. Plus, I really like how most setup guides include screenshots and even video guides. 

Surfshark Review 2024 — Final Words Final Words

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs out there, and it’s particularly great for large families since it allows you to install its apps on an unlimited number of devices. In addition, it also comes with high-end security features, and it provides very good streaming support since it works with 100+ streaming platforms. Other perks include a large server network (3,200+  servers in 95+ countries), very fast speeds, and super intuitive apps for all major platforms. 

There are only very few minor complaints. The main issue is that Surfshark doesn’t work in restrictive regions like China and Egypt. Also, the provider is missing full leak protection (it only provides DNS leak protection) — still, I should note I never experienced any leaks in my tests.